Chemical Facility Blast Kills One, Injures Two

BERLIN (AP) — An explosion at a chemical industry facility in western Germany killed one person and injured two others Saturday, authorities said.

A worker's body was recovered hours after the blast and subsequent fire, German news agency dapd reported. Another employee sustained severe burns and was taken to a hospital by helicopter after the incident in Marl, in the Ruhr industrial region.

A firefighter sustained light injuries while working to extinguish the blaze, which sent up a thick cloud of black smoke.

Police said a tank apparently exploded at the facility. The cause was unclear.

Authorities initially said that two more people were missing, but later tracked them down at home. The chemical industry estate where the incident happened contains facilities belonging to 30 companies.